Crew works to restore fiber cable amidst flooding
Little Nemaha expected to crest near Auburn below moderate flood stage
By News Channel Nebraska
AUBURN – Crews are working to replace a fiber optic cable that was damaged at the flooding Little Nemaha River bridge on Highway 136 east of Auburn.
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the river, which reached its forecasted crest Thursday morning at 22.6 feet. The river is not expected to drop below action stage until Friday morning.
Floating debris is blamed for cutting a fiber optic cable that serves Brownville, Nemaha and Peru. Crews are hoping to splice in a temporary cable to restore service and make major repairs later.
Lowland flooding begins at a 20-foot flood stage and moderate flooding occurs at 23 feet.
The river reached 25 feet at Auburn in 2001.
Three inches of rain is reported at Palmyra, 2.9 inches at Dunbar and 2.5 inches at Talmage.
The heaviest rain is reported in the Weeping Water Creek basin, where 3.5 inches fell over 24 hours. The Weeping Water Creek at Union is forecast to crest at 20 feet today. Flood stage is 23 feet.
